Higher brain functions are attributed to the cortex, a brain structure composed of a large number of neurons which are highly interconnected. A potential mechanism for neuronal information processing is the coordinated activity of populations of neurons. To approach this level of processing and to study the spatial and temporal scales of neuronal interaction requires to observe large portions of the network simultaneously. The group of Sonja Grün in the Institute for Computational and Systems Neuroscience focuses on the development of analysis strategies that detect the concerted activity in the brain and enable us to explore the relevance of the observed activity for behavior and cognition. A theoretical understanding of the interrelation of signals recorded on different temporal and spatial scales is a crucial point of focus in this group.

Our research goal is to gain an understanding of the relevant spatio-temporal scale(s) at which the cortex effectively interacts, and to contribute to the uncovering of its function. This requires:

Combination of advanced experimental techniques with theoretical work on data analysis and modeling

Development of statistical tools for data from awake behaving animals

Data analysis to extract and condense the relevant characteristics of the system

Interpretation of the system dynamics by construction of theoretical (biophysical and functional models

Intense interaction with experimenters, who provide us with their experimental data and valuable insights from the experimental perspective.